WHITEHALL TOWNSHIP — From emergency medical services and food assistance to senior programs and future housing development, Whitehall Township board members spent much of their June 22 meeting focused on services that affect residents across the White Lake area.
The meeting highlighted both immediate community needs and long term planning, with presentations from White Lake Ambulance Authority, local organizations receiving Senior Millage funding, Muskegon Community College, and county officials. The board also approved a resolution supporting the proposed Hickory Place Housing Development Tax Increment Financing plan, a step toward a new residential development in the township.
White Lake Ambulance reports strong finances, rapid response times
White Lake Ambulance Authority Director and Paramedic Jonathon Degen provided the board with a detailed review of ambulance operations and finances.
Degen said the authority has undergone a significant turnaround since restructuring its operations more than a decade ago. Changes included hiring an accountant and partnering with EMS|MC for billing services and financial reporting.
Since 2017, White Lake Ambulance has processed more than 7,000 transports, collecting approximately $3.8 million with an 82.2 percent collection rate. Degen said the organization now maintains healthy reserve and equipment funds and recently purchased a newer ambulance with cash.
One area Degen emphasized was the authority’s commitment to advanced life support care.
“We have a paramedic in every truck and we go on all our calls,” he told the board.
While some ambulance services increasingly rely on basic life support staffing models, Degen said White Lake Ambulance has no plans to move away from having paramedics available on every ambulance.
The service responded to 1,412 calls in 2025, including 1,112 emergency response requests and 1,189 patient contacts.
Degen also stressed that residents are not charged when crews respond but do not transport a patient to a medical facility.
“If we don’t transport, there’s no charge,” he explained.
Response times remain among the organization’s strengths. Degen reported an average emergency response time of just over six minutes within Whitehall Township, significantly faster than many rural ambulance services.
The authority also recently purchased a low mileage four wheel drive ambulance from Norton Shores that is expected to improve winter response capabilities once it is painted and placed into service later this year.
Looking ahead, Degen said White Lake Ambulance could begin serving Fruitland Township if voters approve joining the authority this August. If approved, he believes the additional tax base could eventually help reduce millage rates for existing member communities.
Senior Millage recipients share growing community needs
Board members also heard from three organizations receiving support through the township’s Senior Millage distribution program.
Food pantry serving increasing numbers
Rev. Donna Morton of White Lake United Church of Christ described the church’s partnership with Feeding America and the growing demand for food assistance.
The church hosts a mobile food pantry every other month, relying on volunteers from throughout the community to sort and distribute food.
Morton said the White Lake distribution ranks among the busiest Feeding America mobile food pantries in the state, reaching nearly 300 people during some events.
She reported a 71 percent increase in seniors seeking assistance and growing demand among families with children.
As food insecurity continues to rise, the church is exploring additional ways to provide necessities that are not covered by food assistance programs, including hygiene and paper products.
Whitehall Township Trustee Chuck Schmitigal presents Senior Millage funding to White Lake United Church of Christ Pastor Donna Morton during the June 22 township board meeting.
Community meals continue to grow
Pastor Tim Dibble of White Lake United Methodist Church highlighted several food based outreach efforts, including the church’s food pantry and The Gathering community meal program.
The Gathering offers free dinners on Mondays and Thursdays and regularly attracts between 40 and 75 people per meal. Different community organizations, churches, civic groups, and volunteers rotate responsibility for preparing meals.
Dibble said the program serves a diverse mix of residents, from seniors seeking social interaction to individuals facing food insecurity.
He noted that one of the most valuable aspects of the meals is the opportunity for people from different backgrounds to gather together.
Whitehall Township Clerk Ilene R. Nichols presents Senior Millage funding to Pastor Tim Dibble of White Lake United Methodist Church during the June 22 township board meeting.
Senior Center remains active hub
White Lake Senior Center Director Christi Marsh shared the wide variety of programs available at the center, including exercise classes, card games, chair volleyball, wood carving, crafting classes, coffee gatherings, tax assistance, and monthly events.
The center sees between 45 and 70 visitors daily and operates largely through community support, fundraising efforts, township contributions, and volunteer involvement.
Marsh said Whitehall Township residents regularly participate in many of the center’s programs and services.
Whitehall Township Treasurer Rhonda Boyd presents Senior Millage funding to White Lake Senior Center Director Christi Marsh during the June 22 township board meeting.
County updates include parks millage discussion
Muskegon County Commissioner Kim Cyr provided several county updates.
Among them was discussion of a proposed countywide parks and trails millage expected to appear on the November ballot. Cyr said the proposal would generate additional funding for parks and recreational improvements while also creating opportunities for local municipalities to apply for funding assistance for park related projects.
Cyr also discussed proposed changes involving county drain district requests, which would require property owners requesting new drain districts to share costs associated with engineering studies.
Muskegon Community College promotes August millage vote
Kristin Tank, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer for Muskegon Community College, spoke about the college’s upcoming August ballot proposal.
The request seeks restoration of previously rolled back operating millage rates under Michigan’s Headlee Amendment provisions.
Tank said the funding would help address aging infrastructure on the college’s main campus, including HVAC systems dating back to the 1960s, safety upgrades, accessibility improvements, technology modernization, roof replacement projects, and parking lot improvements.
She also highlighted the expansion of the Muskegon Area Promise program, which now provides tuition opportunities for more county residents.
Board supports Hickory Place Housing Development resolution
The board’s primary item of new business involved Resolution 26-13, which expresses support for the proposed Hickory Place Housing Development and the use of a Brownfield Tax Increment Financing plan through the Muskegon County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority.
The resolution does not grant final approval for the project. Instead, it signals the township’s willingness to participate in the review process and continue evaluating future Brownfield Plan requests associated with the development.
According to discussion during the meeting, the proposed development would include approximately 72 single family homes with projected sale prices ranging from roughly $325,000 to $350,000.
Township officials explained that the tax increment financing mechanism would help fund infrastructure improvements associated with the project, including sewer related work. Existing tax revenues would continue flowing to local entities while future growth in tax revenue generated by the development could be used to reimburse eligible infrastructure costs.
Officials emphasized that additional public hearings and approvals would still be required before the project could move forward.
The board ultimately approved the resolution, allowing the proposal to continue through the county review process.
Looking ahead
While the agenda covered a wide range of topics, a common theme emerged throughout the evening: how local organizations and public agencies are adapting to growing community needs.
Whether through faster emergency response, expanded food assistance, senior programming, educational opportunities, or new housing development, many of the discussions centered on balancing current demands with long term planning for Whitehall Township’s future.
For residents, the meeting offered a snapshot of both the challenges and opportunities shaping the community today.
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